13 Ways To Start a Conversation (With

Examples)
By Indeed Editorial Team
Updated September 9, 2022 | Published December 12, 2019

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers,
researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and
insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

Show Transcript

Related: Best Networking Tips: How To Make a Connection

Networking isn't just about meeting new people. Knowing how to network can
strengthen your business connections and might even lead to a job referral.
In this video, we'll show you how to navigate a networking event like a pro.

Whether you are trying to settle into a new role or meeting a new
professional contact, the ability to start a conversation is an excellent skill
for networking and building relationships. However, it can be a challenge
to find the right words the first time you meet someone. Regardless of
the situation or personality of the person you want to talk to, there are
several effective ways to begin a conversation.

In this article we’ll provide some examples you can use when starting
conversations. We list 13 conversation starters and a variety of ice-
breaker ideas.

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How to start a conversation
In the workplace, you can choose a variety of topics to start a
conversation as long as they are appropriate for the environment.
Conversations with colleagues or professional contacts will be different
than those with new friends or acquaintances. Your initial efforts could
start a conversation that may pay off by helping you build valuable
relationships with coworkers and colleagues. Here are some conversation
starters for the workplace:

1. Ask for information

A good way to start a conversation is to ask for information from the

person you want to talk to. This is an effective, natural way to build
rapport with someone quickly. Even if you already know the answer, it is
still a good way to approach someone if you cannot think of another
topic.

For example, if you are attending an event and see a colleague you have
not talked to yet, you can ask them about the conference.

Example: “Do you know if the regional director will speak after the opening
session?”

With this, you can take the conversation even further by mentioning
something you like about the speakers and so on.

2. Pay a compliment

Complimenting someone can brighten their day and boost their

confidence. You can pick something about the person you like and
mention why you like it.

Example: “I really like your hair. The cut suits you.”

There are several follow-up questions you can ask to keep the
conversation going such as where they go to get their hair cut or how
they chose the style.

3. Comment on something pleasant

You can usually find something positive to say about an event or

situation. The occasion could have been the last office happy hour or a
sports game that was on the night before. If the person shares your
views, you are on your way to an engaging conversation.

Example: “Did you watch the football game last night? I think our team
finally hit their stride.”

From there, the conversation can go deeper into the game or a tangential
subject such as a different sports team.

4. Introduce yourself

While this may not be suitable for every situation, introducing yourself is
a straightforward way to show your interest in meeting someone. If you
just started a new job and have not met someone in another department
yet, you can approach them and introduce yourself.

Example: “Hi, I’m Lisa. I’m new to the team and wanted to introduce myself.”

You can then ask follow-up questions about their position or how long
they have been with the company.

Related: How To Introduce Yourself in an Interview

5. Offer help

If you find yourself in a position to help someone you want to talk to,
seize the moment and assist them. Offering help can make you likable
and earn the trust of the other person, especially when you show genuine
concern.
Example: “Can I help you file away some of those binders?” or “Do you need
a seat?”

From there, you can lead into a conversation related to the task such as
what is in the contents of the binders.

6. Ask for help

Requesting help is another effective conversation starter. It works

because it makes the other person feel helpful, especially if it’s
something they can provide easily. If someone does you a favor, they
may be more likely to think of you in a favorable light and trust you.
Asking for help can help you start a friendly conversation but make sure
your request is convenient for the other party.

Example: “Could you tell me where this conference room is located?” or

“Could I borrow a pen from you?”

7. Mention a shared experience

If you want to talk to someone who you know shares something in

common with you, you can always find a topic as a talking point. Your
shared experiences make getting along easier and that aids the flow of
the conversation and the building of the relationship.

Example: “When was the last time you saw our friend Rachel?” or “How do
you like working in the Philly office?”

8. Ask an opinion

Soliciting other people’s opinions shows you value and are interested in
what they have to say. If they are familiar with the topic, many people will
happily respond to your questions and get a conversation started. When
asking for an opinion, choose topics relevant to the moment.

Example: “How do you like the coffee from the new cafe?” or “Are those
(name brand) shoes? Are they comfortable?”
9. Praise the person

When you meet an executive or prominent person in your organization

for the first time, a good way to start a conversation is to praise their
work.

Example: “I heard the speech you gave at the banquet last week. You made
some really good points.”

Follow up the praise with questions relevant to the compliment such as

how they became such a good public speaker.

10. Show genuine interest

See if you can find a topic you know the person is passionate about.
Passions can get your coworkers talking and you can learn something
new. Remember to keep the conversation friendly and positive.

Example: “I see your T-shirt says [band name]. Have you been to one of their
shows?” or “I saw on the welcome email that you just moved here from
Barbados. What is it like there?”

11. Ask about them

People naturally like talking about themselves. Try finding a topic that will
allow the person to speak about their interests, family or experiences.

Example: ”That’s a great photo of your family on your desk. How old are
your children?” or ”I heard that you recently took vacation time to visit Hawaii,
how was it?”

12. Make an observation

The environment you’re in can offer many conversation starters.

Commenting on the building, temperature or artwork can all be great
ways to get a person talking with you.
Example: ”They did a great job decorating this office” or ”The views from this
window are beautiful!”

13. Comment on the weather

If all else fails, you can always comment on the weather. It is one of the
easiest ways to get someone talking and can segue into multiple other
topics.

Example: “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?" or “Can you believe all the snow we’re
getting?”

Ice-breakers to start a conversation

Ice-breaker questions are a fun and engaging way to learn more about
someone and keep the conversation going. Examples of ice-breakers
include:

• What are you currently reading?

• If you could meet any historical figure, either living or deceased, who
would you choose and why?
• What’s the last film you watched? What did you like or dislike about it?
• If you could pick up a certain skill instantly, what would it be?
• What’s your favorite book?
• What is your favorite movie?
• What’s the most memorable vacation you’ve ever taken?
• What superpower would you like to have?
• Have you ever done something on your bucket list?
• Do you collect anything?
• If you had 25 hours in a day, what would you do with the extra hour?
• What’s your go-to karaoke song?
• If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
• Who’s your celebrity look alike?
• What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
• Is there a certain person that has inspired your work?
 • What’s the most valuable piece of career advice you’ve been given?

• What’s your favorite indoor activity?

• Where would you most like to travel next?

Read more: 55 Icebreaker Questions To Use When Meeting New

People

What is the best topic for starting a conversation?

Since you now know how to start a conversation, it helps to know the best
topics to discuss. These rank among the most popular:

Family

You can ask questions about relationships, siblings, children or even pets.
So long as your communication skills are good and the questions are not
too intimate, people will often feel proud to talk freely about their
families.

This is a perfect topic for a work happy hour or a team function. It is a

way to engage in small talk and learn more about a person quickly.

Example: “What kind of dog do you have?"

Sports

People are passionate about sports and will gladly share their passion.
You can ask questions about their favorite teams, tournaments and
sporting events.

Example: “Did you see the penalty kick the U.S. had against Portugal?"

Entertainment

In the age of on-demand entertainment and blockbuster TV series,

entertainment is an important talking point for many people. If you ask
someone about their favorite TV show or series, the chances are that they
will have one or two they watch.

Example: “Have you seen the latest superhero movie?” or “Did you watch the
music awards show last night?”

News

Being current on the latest news can help you start small talk easily with
strangers and acquaintances. Whether you are a fan of traditional
newspapers or follow digital alternative news media, you can always
open a conversation with questions about local news, happenings in
other parts of the world and others. However, it is generally best to leave
political news out of the workplace.

Example: “Did you hear about that hero dog that saved a child from a fire?”

Work

Many people take pride in talking about their job and will gladly share
thoughts on the role they play in the organization. Whether you are
talking to a person in your own company or someone you met recently,
asking questions about their duties at work will likely inspire a response.

Example: “How do you like managing escrow accounts?”

Topics to avoid
Some topics are best to avoid when starting a conversation in the
workplace. Asking questions that are too personal or sensitive can cause
your relationship to get off on the wrong foot. They include:

• Salary or benefits
• Politics
• Religion
• Age
• Controversies
 • Gossip

The key is to try to avoid any negative conversations that might make
people upset. Keep your conversation starters positive, and you can start
a good relationship with your coworker or colleague.

Related: How to Build Good Working Relationships

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Tips for starting a conversation

Use open body language

To help the individuals you’re engaging with feel more comfortable you
might want to smile or make eye contact but look for cues that they are
unavailable or uninterested in the conversation. In that case, it may be
best to move on and respect their space. It may not be a good time for
them to build a connection with someone new.

Actively listen

Active listening means focusing completely on the speaker. This will allow
you to fully understand the information being exchanged during the
conversation to respond thoughtfully. This will help to build trust and a
relationship with the person you’re engaging with.

Have confidence

It can be intimidating to start a conversation in many situations. Know

that the person you start the conversation with is likely appreciative of
the gesture and may have been wanting to break the ice with you as well.
It is natural to feel anxious or nervous when approaching a new contact,
but the benefit of meeting new people and expanding your network is
worth it.
Get contact information and follow up

If your conversation has gone well and it feels natural to exchange

contact information, consider trading business cards or simply offering
your email. This way, you can follow up by explaining that it was a
pleasure to meet them and that you are happy to continue the
conversation as it makes sense. Draw on specific details from your chat to
let them know you paid attention and valued meeting them.

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